Feasibility of a Smartphone Application for Education and Symptom Management of Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma on Combined Tyrosine Kinase and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Purpose: Patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) face significant challenges, stemming both from the complexities of the disease itself and the adverse effects of treatments. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile health (mHealth) application tailored for education and symptom management of patients with advanced RCC receiving combined immune checkpoint inhibitor and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (ICI-TKI) therapy.

Methods: The primary end points were acceptability and feasibility.

15 years of patient-reported outcomes in clinical trials leading to GU cancer drug approvals: a systematic review on the quality of data reporting and analysis.

Background: Standardized, high-quality PRO data reporting is crucial for patient centered care in the field of oncology, especially in clinical trials that establish standard of care. This study evaluated PRO endpoint design, conduct and reporting methods in FDA approved drugs for GU malignancies.

Methods: A systematic review of the FDA archives identified GU cancer drug approvals from Feb 2007 to July 2022.

Evaluation of Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) Protocol Content and Reporting for Clinical Trials that Lead to the approval of frontline Immune Checkpoint Blockade Combination for Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma - The Patients' Voice or a Missed Opportunity.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a rapidly emerging field of oncology that has revolutionized the metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treatment. Four recent treatment regimens Nivolumab-Ipilimumab, Pembrolizumab-Axitinib, Nivolumab-Cabozantinib, and Pembrolizumab-Lenvatinib-have demonstrated improved clinical endpoints compared to standard of care and are endorsed by NCCN (2021). However, data on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for patients receiving these regimens are limited.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Clinical Trials Leading to Cancer Immunotherapy Drug Approvals From 2011 to 2018: A Systematic Review.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) promote patient centeredness in clinical trials; however, in the field of rapidly emerging and clinically impressive immunotherapy, data on PROs are limited.

Methods: We systematically identified all immunotherapy approvals from 2011 through 2018 and assessed the analytic tools and reporting quality of associated PRO reports. For randomized clinical trials (RCTs), we developed a novel 24-point scoring scale: the PRO Endpoints Analysis Score based on 24 criteria derived from the recommendations of the Setting International Standards in Analyzing Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life Endpoints Data Consortium.

Collaborative Learning in the Texas Medicaid 1115 Waiver Program.

The Texas Medicaid 1115 Transformation Waiver reforms the state's safety net systems by creating a Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment incentive pool for innovative healthcare delivery. The Waiver supports the design and implementation of transformative projects. As part of the Waiver requirements, regions created Learning Collaboratives to collaborate on project implementation and outcomes.

Wealth, Health Expenditure, and Cancer: A National Perspective.

Background: The US health care system is characterized by high health expenditures with penultimate outcomes. This ecological study evaluates the associations between wealth, health expenditure, and cancer outcomes at the state level.

Methods: We extracted gross domestic product (GDP) and health expenditure per capita from the 2009 Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, respectively.

Association Between β-Genus Human Papillomavirus and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Immunocompetent Individuals-A Meta-analysis.

Importance: Existing epidemiological evidence remains controversial regarding the association between β-genus human papillomavirus (β-HPV) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) in immunocompetent individuals.

Objective: We aimed to clarify this association and evaluate type-specific β-HPV involvement.

Data Sources: We performed a systematic literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies in humans through June 18, 2014, with no restriction on publication date or language.

PREVALENCE OF DIABETES MELLITUS AMONG PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION.

Objectives: This study evaluates the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among patients with arterial hypertension, and indirectly, the crucial impact of adopting screening for diabetes as a standard procedure for all patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension.

Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of hypertensive patients recruited from three different university hospitals in Lebanon. Blood pressure and glycemic blood measurements were determined in all subjects.

Ventilator-associated events prevention, learning lessons from the past: A systematic review.

Background: Preventing Ventilator-associated events (VAE) is a major challenge. Strictly monitoring for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is not sufficient to ensure positive outcomes. Therefore, the surveillance definition was updated and a change to the broader VAE was advocated.

Strategic planning processes and financial performance among hospitals in Lebanon.

Background: Strategic planning has been presented as a valuable management tool. However, evidence of its deployment in healthcare and its effect on organizational performance is limited in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). The study aimed to explore the use of strategic planning processes in Lebanese hospitals and to investigate its association with financial performance.